National Health and Medical Research Council Information

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia's peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and governments; and for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the conduct of health and medical research.

NHMRC brings together within a single national organisation the functions of research funding and development of advice.

It draws upon the resources of all components of the health system, including governments, medical practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals, researchers, teaching and research institutions, public and private program managers, service administrators, community health organisations, social health researchers and consumers.

NHMRC New Grants Program

In 2020, the NHMRC will continue the implementation of its new Grants program, which was introduced in 2019. The program consists of four funding streams:

Investigator Grants: This stream will consolidate separate fellowship and research support into one grant scheme that will provide the highest-performing researchers at all career stages with funding for their salary (if required) and a significant research support package.

Synergy Grants: will provide $5 million per grant for outstanding multi-disciplinary research teams to work together to answer complex questions.

Ideas Grants: will support innovative and creative research projects, and be available to researchers with bright ideas at all career stages, including early and mid-career researchers.

Strategic and Leveraging Grants: will support research that addresses identified national needs. This will include an enhanced Targeted Calls for Research scheme and a dedicated funding stream for Clinical Trails and Cohort Studies. It also includes existing schemes such as Centres of Research Excellence, Development Grants, international collaborative schemes, and Partnerships for Better Health (Partnership Centres and Partnership Projects).

NHMRC Grants Program Schedule 2020 - 2021

The 2020 - 2021 schedule and key dates for making applications for NHMRC grants is as follows:

Grant Scheme

Important Dates

Synergy Grants

Application Notification of Intent due to DTHM: 26 November 2019

Applications open: 26 February 2020

Application minimum date due to NHMRC: 25 March 2020

Application final draft due to DTHM:18 March 2020

Application final draft due to JCU Connect & Internal Close:1 April 2020

Application final due to NHMRC/Applications close: 22 April 2020

CTCS Grants

Application Notification of Intent due to DTHM: 4 December 2019

Applications open: 4 March 2020

Application minimum date due to NHMRC: 1 April 2020

Application final draft due to DTHM: 24 March 2020

Application final draft due to JCU Connect & Internal Close: 8 April 2020

Application final due to NHMRC/Applications close: 29 April 2020

Ideas Grants

Application Notification of Intent due to DTHM: 11 December 2019

Applications open: 11 March 2020

Application minimum date due to NHMRC: 8 April 2020

Application final draft due to DTHM: 25 March 2020

Application final draft due to JCU Connect & Internal Close: 1 April 2020

Application final due to NHMRC/Applications close: 6 May 2020

Partnership Projects PRC1

Application Notification of Intent due to DTHM: 20 December 2019

Applications open: 25 March 2020

Application minimum date due to NHMRC:29 July 2020

Application final draft due to DTHM: 8 July 2020

Application final draft due to JCU Connect & Internal Close: 22 July 2020

Application final due to NHMRC/Applications close: 13 August 2020

Postgraduate Scholarships

Application Notification of Intent due to DTHM:15 January 2020

Applications open: 15 April 2020

Application minimum date due to NHMRC: 13 May 2020

Application final draft due to DTHM: 6 May 2020

Application final draft due to JCU Connect & Internal Close: 20 May 2020

Application final due to NHMRC/Applications close: 10 June 2020

Partnership Projects PRC2

Application Notification of Intent due to DTHM: 1 April 2020

Applications open: 30 July 2020

Application minimum date due to NHMRC: 18 November 2020

Application final draft due to DTHM: 28 October 2020

Application final draft due to JCU Connect & Internal Close: 11 November 2020

Application final due to NHMRC/Applications close: 2 December 2020

Investigator Grants

Application Notification of Intent due to DTHM: 1 July 2020

Applications open: TBA

Application minimum date due to NHMRC: TBA

Application final draft due to DTHM: TBA

Application final draft due to JCU Connect & Internal Close: TBA

Application final due to NHMRC/Applications close: TBA

How to apply for NHMRC Grants

All JCU researchers intending to apply for a NHMRC grant are expected to submit an NOI to the Office of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine (DTHM).

The NOI should use the proformas provided below, and be submitted to dthm@jcu.edu.au at least 12 weeks prior to the opening date of the grant scheme, as per the above JCU - NHMRC Grants Program Schedule.

Through the Australian Government’s Grant Connect, the NHMRC will also publish a template in which the specific project proposal is to be developed.

Applicants should plan ahead to ensure documentation from other participants to the application (such as letters of consent or support) are collected in a timely manner.

Peer Review

Researchers who wish to have their draft application peer-reviewed, either externally or internally, must provide their draft application to DTHM six weeks prior to the relevant scheme closing date, as per the timelines outlined in the JCU - NHMRC Grants Program Schedule.

Researchers may also provide their application directly to an identified peer reviewer, with advice to that effect to DTHM at: dthm@jcu.edu.au

JCU Connect Review

Draft applications must also be provided to JCU Connect three weeks prior to the submission date for feedback and review, as per the timelines outlined in the JCU - NHMRC Grants Program Schedule.

JCU Connect will provide feedback and work with applicants individually to ensure, as far as possible, that the application is of competitive standard, and can be supported by the University.

JCU Connect is responsible for submitting all NHMRC grant applications on behalf of JCU applicants, once an application has been certified by the CIA in RGMS.

The CIA should only certify that the application is complete in consultation with JCU Connect.

If the application involves the participation of other researchers, then formal consent will need to be obtained by the CIA that the participants agree to their role and the application can be submitted.

Further information on CIA responsibilities in developing and finalizing an application can be identified in the appropriate NHMRC grant scheme guidelines on the Australian Government’s Grant Connect.

Applicants are also encouraged to confirm their understandings with the JCU Connect Grant’s team at Grantsconnect@jcu.edu.au or on (07) 4781 6213.

We acknowledge Australian Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islander People as the first inhabitants of the nation, and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where our staff and students live, learn and work.